a journey meant for discovering who we all are together

I abandoned my blog starting in the beginning of November, adventuring during a week of free travel and then moving to the beautiful town of Santiago Atitlán. I didn’t have much internet access, and suspecting as much back in the city, chose to leave my laptop in my locker at Semilla. I settled in for … More a season in Santiago

I hiked a volcano this weekend, which isn’t anything I figured I would ever do or write about in my life. It was chilly and windy with the threat of rain when we started the hike around 9 in the morning, and we took off at a pace that got us to the top faster … More The last weekend in the city

I’m sitting in the living room with my laptop while my host parents watch a movie. We had dinner a little earlier than normal which means I’m starting my homework a little earlier than normal. The routine we’ve slowly established here will be changing soon; we have two more weeks left of language study here … More New places, familiar faces

We’ve spent a lot of time in our afternoon classes talking about the political and economic realities in Guatemala. Poverty in rural Guatemala is about 75%, and 60% of the commerce in Guatemala City is informal (street vending, etc). The wealth disparity is also really extreme in Guatemala. There are 8 families in Guatemala who … More A little bit of history, a little bit of context

My host mom Nuvia and I have been drinking tea together almost every day. She figured out quickly that I don’t drink coffee, and started making sure there’s hot water for me to have tea when I get home from school. It’s a calming and familiar way for me to relax. I’m still trying to … More Amish Gringa

It’s Sunday afternoon and I’m sitting in my kitchen doing homework for tomorrow. My host brothers are watching a movie and my dad is sitting at the table with me sorting through mail and reading the news. I have officially been in Guatemala for a week now, and in honor of that, I’m taking the … More It’s been one week!

Well, once again I’m packing to leave but this time I’m packing for two places at once. I’m moving my belongings into my dorm at Bluffton University this Saturday and on Monday I’ll be hopping on a plane with 8 other Bluffton students bound for Guatemala. Bluffton University offers a semester-long study abroad experience through … More Destination: Guatemala

I’ve never been very good at goodbyes. I don’t get overly attached to many people, but on the occasion that I do, I’m an emotional mess when leaving them. (At least inwardly, even if not outwardly). I felt like a fool at my LAX gate when I flew back to Ohio from LA this summer, … More just a multitude of moments

Every two years, Mennonite Church USA holds a convention; a week of workshops, worship, and conferences. While I was in high school, I attended Convention in both Phoenix and Kansas City. I can recall both weeks vividly, and I still have my notes from the services and seminars. I remember thinking to myself, “This is … More The Fighting Church

Most of my posts tend to cover heavier topics so to change things up a little, (in honor of my 20-year anniversary of being a human on earth) I have put together a list of 20 things I’ve learned about life and about myself. It’s not possible to live a healthy life without a healthy … More 20 Things I’ve Learned In 20 Years